Bidirectional tape transport for cassettes

ABSTRACT

A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes, which affords at the selection of the user (1) drive of the tape in either direction, (2) drive of the tape first in one direction of the completion of the playing operation and then in the other direction to the completion of the second playing operation, (3) cassette ejection automatically as the end of the tape is reached after the completion of one or after completion of both playing operations, and (4) ejection of the cassette at any stage of said operations.

0 0' 1 11111888 Mates atent 11 13,604,714

172 [IN/CD101 TheophielClementJoullLodcwljkStaar 156 ReferencesCited I N 24 1;4 Belgium UNITED STATES PATENTS 253 i 1968 2,969,929 1/1961 Rudzitis 242/199 [45] memd SPLMW" 3,027,110 3/1962 Andrews. 242/210 [73] Am ea SA 3,070,321 12 1962 Bara 242 189 lghelgium 3,075,717 1 1963 Kingston 242/200 [32] Prior 3,111,281 11/1963 Sinkewitsch... 242/200 [33] Y Belgium 3,265,317 8/1966 Liangetal..... 242/198 [3 45520 3,433,428 3/1969 Schatteman.... 242/198 Pat. 700586 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attomey-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann [54] BIDIRECTIONAL TAPE TRANSPORT FOR CASSETTES 2, 15 Chums u Drawmg Figs ABSTRACT: A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes, [52] U.S. Cl 274/4 E, which affords at the selection of the user (1) drive of the tape 226/108, 242/188, 242/198, 242/206 in either direction, (2) drive of the tape first in one direction [51] Int. Cl ..G1lb 15/30, of the completion of the playing operation and then in the G1 11) 23/ 10, B65h 17/12 other direction to the completion of the second playing opera- [50] Field of Search 242/ 197, tion, (3) cassette ejection automatically as the end of the tape 198, 199, 200, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 210, 180, is reached after the completion of one or after completion of 181, 206; 274/4 C, 4 E, 11 C; 179/l00.22; both playing operations, and (4) ejection of the cassette at any 226/108, 110, 176, 128, 188, 181 stage of said operations.

BIDIIRECTKONAL TAPE TRANSPORT FOR CASSETTES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bidirectional tape transport for a cassette player-recorder.

The term cassette" is used herein to mean a tape cartridge of the type in which tape is carried on two reels enclosed in a flat, thin plastic container, the tape being fed back and forth (reel-to-reel) for recording or playback. Each end of the tape is fastened to one of the reels and the tape may be provided with monaural or stereo tracks for recording or playback of sound in both directions of movement of the tape within the cassette.

I-leretofore, cassette player-recorders have included tape transport mechanisms which afford transport of the tape in one direction within the cassette. When a cassette is inserted into the player-recorder and recording or playback terminates after operation of the tape transport to completely transfer the tape from one reel to the other, the cassette can be removed, turned over, and reinserted with the reels reversed so that its tape will be removed from the full reel and retransferred to the empty reel. In this manner both sets of tracks will be played, but in order to play the tracks the cassette must be rewound from the apparatus and reinserted.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a tape transport for cassettes which provides means for transporting the tape in both directions reel-to-reel within a cassette without requiring it to be removed from the apparatus and reinserted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape transport affording bidirectional drive which provides consecutive playback in both directions of tape movement in a predetermined order after the cassette has been inserted into the tape transport and placed in playing position, the first such direction of movement corresponding to the direction provided in similar equipment devised for a single playback operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bidirectional tape transport which at the selection of the operator, includes means for ejecting the cassette from the apparatus after playback of the track recorded in the first direction or after the playback of the tracks recorded in both directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bidirectional tape transport for cassettes which at the selection of the user will play the tape in either direction of tape movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bidirectional tape transport which will accept and play back partly wound cassettes; thus, if a cassette is inserted which previously had been partly played so that the tape is partly transferred from one reel to the other, one of the objects of the invention is to provide for completing the playing operation in the first direction of tape movement and to start the playing operation in the opposite direction of movement. If the cassette which is inserted happens to have its tape completely wound on the takeup reel in the first direction of tape movement, one of the objects of the invention is to provide for automatically sensing that condition and for shifting the drive means so that it immediately starts operating in the second direction of tape movement to play the tape in the second direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tape transport apparatus which displays to the user the direction of tape movement within the cassette during all stages of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bidirectional tape transport which affords capstan drive in both directions of movement of the tape and affords braking of the takeoff reel in both directions of tape movement to obtain uniform tape speed and to avoid damage to the tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bidirectional tape transport which in shifting the drive means from one tape movement direction to the other does not change the position of the drive capstans and reel drive spindles which penetrate within the cassette butmoves only elements outside the eas- I sette so as to afford a very quick and smooth engagement and disengagement of the operative elements while avoiding damage to the tape or the cassette in the course of shifting the drivemeans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bidirectional transport which is suitable for mass production by having a minimum number of parts yet which will be reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall diagrammatic plan view of the bidirectional tape transport of the present invention illustrating the elements of the pair of drive sets and the position controlling cam means therefor in an initial position with a cassette at the front of the guides before being inserted and before either drive set is engaged;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts removed taken in the planes of lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to FIG. 1 but omitting the drive set cam means and illustrating the elements of the left-hand drive set moved by said cam means into drive position in response to movement of a cassette to its playing position, to drive the tape counterclockwise (right to left) in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to FIG. I but taken in the plane of lines 5-5 in FIG. 2 to illustrate the drive set cam means omitted from FIG. 3 in the position assumed thereby in response to movement of the cassette to playing position which shifts left-hand drive set into engagement to transport the tape from right to left;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the right-hand drive set engaged and the left-hand drive set disengaged to transport the tape from left to right in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the position of the drive set cam means which is effective to shift the left-hand drive set into engagement to transport the tape from left to right, as illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7a is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view illustrating the operation of the actuator means for shifting the drive set cam means from one position to another responsive to the end of tape movement in one direction, and showing schematically a portion of the control circuit for the actuating solenoid;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a portion of the control circuit for the apparatus, including a switch means in the position assumed with the left-hand drive set operable to drive the tape from right to left in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the control circuit similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating the components including switch means in the position assumed to bring the right-hand drive set into operation to drive the tape from left to right in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the control means similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating the components in the position assumed for single play mode of operation.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a tape transport is shown for cartridges of the type known as cas settes." Cassettes (as shown, for example, in phantom outline in FIG. 1) have two reels i2, 14 with the tape running from reel to reel within the hollow cassette case. This tape transport has the general organization disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 567,115, filed July 22, 1966, entitled Tape Deck," now U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,534, of a stationary frame 16 carrying means for constraining cassette movement to a single plane, and a movable support plate 18 for the tape transport elements. On the stationary frame are opposing guides 20, 22 into which a cassette may be slidably inserted for engagement at its lateral edges and movement in its own plane edge first from the front of the apparatus to the back of the apparatus and the playing position (shown in FIG. 3). The movable support plate l8 carries tape and reel drive elements for introduction into engagement with the cassette tape and reel hubs as the cassette moves to playing position from front to back along the guides.

While said copending application disclosed moving the tape in one direction from one reel to the other within the cassette, according to this invention, the tape transport provides bidirectional transport of the tape at playing or recording speeds within the cassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel. This is to permit playing prerecorded monaural tracks or stereo pairs of tracks with which such cassettes are conventionally provided (or to record such tracks) without the necessity of removing a cassette from the apparatus, turning it over, and reinserting it, as will be required where the tape transport affords drive of the tape at playing speeds in only a single direction.

Furthermore, by utilizing a preferred form of control means for the tape transport, it is another feature of the invention that the operator may select either a single direction mode of operation (and may select either drive direction) or a mode in which the tape is played for its full length first in one direction, and then in the other direction. Thus, with the bidirectional transport of this invention, after the tape has been driven in one direction for the playing operation, and emptied from one reel and fully wound on the other, the tape transport is caused to automatically reverse and drive the tape in the other direction until the tape on the full reel has been transferred and the tape completely played in the second direction.

To this end, the tape transport includes two similar but selectively operable tape and reed drive sets 24, 26 on the movable support. As shown in FIG. 1, each drive set includes a capstan 28, 30, a reel hub drive spindle 32, 34, an intermediate roller 36, 38 movable into drive relationship between rollers fixed to the capstan and reel drive spindle of each set, and a movable pinch roller 40, 42 which is carried by the stationary frame 16 and which is engageable by the capstan of the associated drive set with the tape of the cassette inbetween.

In keeping with the present invention, as the cassette moves along the guides 20, 22 to the playing position, the capstans and reel hub spindles of both drive sets are introduced into the cassette, and one of the drive sets is brought into operation. For the purpose of carrying the drive elements into cassette engagement, the movable support plate 18 therefor is suspended as disclosed in said copending application by parallelogram links 44 from the stationary frame so that the movable support plate 18 moves simultaneously together with and toward the cassette as it moves in the guides, and carries the reel drive spindles and capstans of both drive sets into the cassette.

Referring in more detail to the means for supporting and moving the movable transport support plate 18, FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts a cassette in phantom outline as it is being inserted (labeled Position 1) with its contained two reels 12, 14 and tape extending between the reels shown in dashed lines. When the front edge of the cassette reaches Position 2" as it is pushed along the guides 20, 22, it engages a pair of tubular lugs 46, one on each side of the stationary frame 16. Said lugs each have a flange 50 at the base which fit in straight slots 52 in a fixed plate 54 of said frame so that the lugs are movable by the cassette as it is pushed toward the playing position. Upright pins 56 fastened to the movable transport support plate 18 slidably project through the tubular lugs 46, so that the movement of the lugs produced by inserting the cassette moves the pins and thereby the transport support. Because of the suspension from the stationary frame 16 by means of the parallelogram links 44, from its extreme position spaced below the plane of cassette movement and toward the from opening to the guides 20, 22 into which the cassette is inserted, the movable tape transport support plate 18 moves together with the cassette and perpendicularly linearly relatively toward the cassette and is maintained in registration therewith as the cassette is moved to its playing position. The movable support plate 18 is maintained parallel with the plane of the cassette and its simultaneous movement in two directions (parallel with the cassette and towards the cassette) causes the reel drive spindles 32, 34 and tape capstans 28, 30 of the two drive sets 24, 26 on the movable support plate to be maintained in precise alignment with reel hub openings 12, 14 and capstan openings 28', 30 in the cassette, and to enter such openings gradually and gently in the course of cassette movement and thereby drivingly engage the reel hubs and tape within the cassette.

Turning now to the preferred means for mounting the elements of the two drive sets 24, 26 these elements are shown in FIG. 1 carried by the movable support in their nonoperating position before a cassette is inserted. While the entire drive train is not shown, FIG. 1 illustrates that the capstan and reel drive spindle of each drive set has a drive roller (58, 60, 62, 64) fixed thereto, and the drive rollers (58, 62) (60, 64) of each drive set have associated therewith an intermediate roller 36, 38 which is carried by the movable support plate 18 by means of a floating linkage 66, 68 so that it is adapted to be wedged between such drive rollers. In the nonoperating fully disengaged position shown, both such intermediate rollers 36, 38 are wedged between their associated rollers by the force of an almost relaxed spring 71 connected between the floating linkages 66, 68 and acting to draw the linkages toward each other. An electric motor 70 supported on the plate 18 is connected to rotate the capstans 28, 30 of the drive sets 24, 26 in opposite rotational directions by drive means not shown including a clutch so that the drive is impositive to the capstans and will slip. Said drive motor 70 is disconnected from its power source in the nonoperating condition of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, so that the capstans and reel hub spindles do not rotate during this condition of the apparatus.

The pinch rollers 40, 42 of both drive sets 24, 26 are similarly mounted. Each pinch roller is supported between spaced legs of a U-shaped bracket 72, 74 which has an arm 76, 78 hooked to one end of a hairspring 80, 82 which tends to move the bracket and pinch roller toward the front of the tape transport frame. The brackets 72, 74 are pivotally mounted on shafts 84, 86 fastened to the stationary frame 16 so that each bracket pivots about the shaft axis between a position toward the back of the apparatus which is the position of the left-hand pinch roller 40 in FIG. 1, and a position toward the front of the apparatus which is the operating position of the pinch roller and the position of the right-hand pinch roller 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus FIG. 1 illustrates the condition of both drive sets 24, 26 including the pinch rollers 40, 42 associated therewith in the nonoperating condition of the tape transport and before a cassette is inserted into the apparatus and pushed to its playing position.

In carrying out this invention, in the course of movement of the cassette to the playing position, one of the drive sets is effectively engaged to drive the tape in one direction, while the other drive set is effectively disengaged. This is advantageously achieved in the present case since the intermediate rollers of both drive sets are initially in drive relationship between associated drive rollers, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, by displacing the right-hand intermediate drive roller 38 out of such drive relation in the course of the cassette movement to the playing position while leaving the intermediate roller 36 of the left-hand and initially active drive set 24 in such drive relationship. Furthermore, the pinch roller 40 of the left-hand active drive set 24 is shifted into operative relation with the associated capstan 28 of the same drive set while the pinch roller 42 of the nonactive right-hand drive set 26 is shifted clear of the cassette.

For the purpose of effectively engaging and disengaging the drive sets, the intermediate and pinch rollers of each drive set are simultaneously cammed into and out of drive position, by means herein shown as a cam lever 88 which is carried by stationary frame 16. Said cam lever 88 shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1 and in solid lines in FIG. 5 is slidable from side to side in the unit. At each end of the cam lever a V-shaped element 90, 92 provides diverging camming surfaces 94-1 to 94-4 at the back and front edges of the element. The V- shaped element 90 on the left-hand end of the cam lever 88 is effective to shift the intermediate and pinch rollers 36, 40 of the left-hand drive set 24 into and out of drive position. Similarly, the V-shaped element 92 on the right-hand end of the cam lever 88 is effective to shift the intermediate and pinch rollers 38, 42 of the right-hand drive set 26 into and out of drive position.

Accordingly, by movement of the cam lever 88 to the left position of FIG. 3 from the dashed right position shown in FIG. 1, which is produced as an incident to movement of the cassette from the insertion Position 2" in FIG. 1, to the playing position, the intermediate roller 36 of the left-hand drive set 24 is left wedged in active position, and the pinch roller 40 of that same drive set is swung forward into position to be engaged by the left-hand capstan 28 (with the tape of the cassette in-between) as the tape transport elements reach their playing position as shown in FIG. 3. Simultaneously, the intermediate and pinch rollers 38, 42 of the right-hand drive set 26 are shifted to an inactive position; the intermediate roller 38 is left only in abutment with the drive roller 64 fastened to the right-hand reel spindle 34 so as to brake slightly the spindle as the tape is moved counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3; the right-hand pinch roller 42 is swung to its back position.

How this is achieved in the present case is shown in FIG. 5. The cam lever 88, initially in the right-hand position as shown in FIG. 1, is shifted to the left as the cassette is inserted to the playing position. This movement of the cam lever 88 is produced by means of an actuator 96 which having a projection 99 engaged by a pin 98 on the movable transport support plate 18 is shifted lengthwise toward the back of the frame. The actuator 96 is connected to and turns a crank 100 (FIG. 5) about its axis of support 102 responsive to such movement of the actuator, and being connected at its remote end in a slot 104 in the cam lever shifts the lever to the left when so moved.

It will also be noted that to disengage the left-hand drive set 24 while simultaneously engaging the right-hand drive set 26, the actuator 96 is released (FIG. '7) by energizing a solenoid 106, the plunger 108 of which is effective when the solenoid is energized to pull the actuator 96 to the right so that its projection 99 clears the pin 98 on the movable transport support plate 18. The spring 110 on the cam lever 88 is operative to shift the cam lever to the right at the same time pulling the actuator 96 toward the front of the apparatus via the crank 100.

It will be observed that in the nonoperating position of the tape transport as shown in FIG. 1, since the cam lever 88 is shifted to the right, the left-hand pinch roller 40 is displaced toward the back of the stationary frame 16 of the apparatus by the back edge 94-1 of the V-shaped cam element 90 which engages a pin 112 on the bracket 72, while the right-hand pinch roller 42 is pulled to a forward position by the hairspring 82 connected to its supporting bracket 74, the V-shaped element 92 on the right-hand end of the cam lever 88 being shifted away from the pin 114 on said bracket thus allowing such movement thereof.

After the cassette is inserted, with the left-hand capstan 28 rotating counterclockwise as indicated in FIG. 4 and the lefthand drive set 24 active, the tape will be moved from the right reel 14 to the left reel 12 within the cassette. This is the predetermined direction of movement of the tape within the cassette after it is inserted. The left reel 12 becomes the takeup reel which is positively driven via the intermediate roller 36 from the left-hand capstan 28 and the right reel 14 becomes the takeoff reel which is braked to prevent spilling the tape therefrom.

Means are also provided to latch the movable transport support plate 18 in playing position after it has been carried into that position by manual movement of the cassette to its playing position and to start the drive motor 70 so as to begin tape movement in the predetermined counterclockwise direction. In the preferred form of the apparatus, this is achieved by a latch arm 116 having a projection 117 which is engaged by the pin 98 on the movable transport support plate 18 as the plate moves to playing position to force the latch arm 116 aside (as shown in FIG. 1), and which moves back in front of the pin 98 (as shown in FIG. 3) to latch the plate 18 in said playing position. To start the drive motor 70 it is connected to the source of power shown as input terminals 118, 120 in FIG. 8 by a circuit made through series connected switches including a normally open switch 121 which is closed by the tape transport movable support plate 18 when it reaches the playing position, and a switch means 122 herein shown as a slide switch which is actuated according to the position of the bracket 74 for the pinch roller of the right-hand drive set 26. Said slide switch means 122 has two positions, depending on which drive set is active. After a cassette is first inserted and the left-hand drive set 24 is active, the tape is driven counterclockwise by counterclockwise rotation of the capstan 28 and reel spindle 32 of the left-hand drive set 24, while the right-hand drive set 26 is inactive. Said slide switch means 122 in such case is shifted against a spring return to its back position by the right-hand pinch roller bracket 74 as shown in FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 8, this back position of the switch means 122 by conductors 123', 123" and 123", schematically shown on the slide rod 123 (l) energizes the drive motor 70, also (2) connects the power source to energize the left-hand lamp 125 which illuminates that one of the two arrows 124, 126 disposed opposite one another on the front surface of the apparatus which corresponds to the direction of tape movement indicated by the arrow and (3) brings into circuit to the output means, such as a preamplifier or amplifier, track reading elements of the playback head 128 which are aligned to read the set of sound tracks recorded in that direction of tape movement, as indicated by the arrow. The playback head 128 preferably comprises two sets of recorded track reading elements, so as to provide a separate set of elements aligned to read each set (monaural or stereo) of recorded sound tracks on the tape.

As further features of the invention, after the playing operation has been completed in the first (right to left FIG. 3) play direction and the tape stops moving as the end of the tape which is fastened to the right-hand reel is reached, means are provided for automatically sensing the end of that playing operation, for shifting the transport drive elements responsive thereto so as to cause the tape to be driven in the opposite direction until the end of the tape is reached in that second play direction, and thereafter for automatically ejecting the cassette. Furthermore, means are provided for the operator to directly cause the tape to be driven in the second direction of tape movement without waiting for the tape to be driven to the end of the reel in the first direction. Finally, means are provided for ejection of the cassette at any stage with the tape being driven in either direction.

In carrying out these features, means are provided for sensing that tape movement has stopped, herein shown schematically in FIG. 3 as a circuit means 130 operative to effectively control switch means 132. A suitable circuit for this purpose is disclosed in copending application of E. Schatternan, Ser. No. 553,992, entitled Stop System For Tape Decks," filed Nov. 16, 1965, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,488,0l7, which is adapted to sense the continuous rotation of one or the other of the reel drive spindles 32 or 34, to open a circuit through such switch means 132 while the spindle is rotating, and when the rotation thereof stops at the end of the movement of the tape in either direction to make a circuit through such switch means 132.

By connecting solenoid 106 to the power source input terminals 118', 120' through such switch means 132, said solenoid will be energized after the first playing operation when the tape movement stops. When the solenoid 106 is so energized at the end of the first playing operation and the elements are in the position of FIGS. 3 and 5, its plunger 108 is drawn to the right, causing a pin 134 thereon to engage the actuator 96 and pivot the same to the right as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7, removing the projection 99 on the actuator from behind the stud or pin 98 on the transport support plate 18 and allowing the actuator to come forward while the spring 110 shifts the cam lever 88 to the right until it reaches the position of FIG. 7. This movement of the cam lever 88 engages the right-hand drive set 26 and disengages the left-hand drive set 24.

It will be helpful in understanding the operational sequence to consider the mode options available to the user of the apparatus. The user is given the choice of a single play mode in which the cassette is ejected at this stage at the end of the first playing operation, or a consecutive play mode in which the operation of the apparatus continues without ejection of the cassette and the tape is driven in the second direction for the second playing operation. This choice of modes is made by means of the switch TS-l on the front of the unit and shown in the schematic circuits of FIGS. 9 and 10. If the user wishes the cassette to be ejected at the end of the first playing operation (single play mode), the switch is placed in an open position as in FIG. 10. If the operator wishes the second playing operation to be started automatically after the first play operation is completed, the switch TS-I must be closed before the completion of the first playing operation.

It will be recalled that at the end of the first playing operation the sensing circuit 130 responds to the stopping of the tape by closing the switch means 132 which energizes the solenoid 106. This action of the solenoid pulling the actuator 96 to the right releases the actuator, allowing it to come forward to its end position (FIG. 7). In that case where the cassette is to be ejected after the first playing operation, and the switch TS-l is open as in FIG. 10, the switch means 132 of the sensing circuit returns to its normally open state returning the solenoid plunger 108 after it releases the actuator. Responsive to the forward movement of the actuator, the drive means is shifted, including the right-hand pinch roller bracket 7 4 which actuates the switch means 122 to open the circuit to the motor 70. Since the motor stops rotating, the cassette reels stop and the sensing circuit 130 responsive to the stopping of the reels operates to close the switch 132 which again energizes the solenoid 106. The solenoid plunger 108 again pulls the actuator 96 to the right as shown in FIG. 7a so that a pin 149 carried thereon engages a tab 142 on the latch arm 116 causing the latch arm 116 to pivot to the right as shown in FIG. 1. This second pivotal motion of the actuator 96 causes the latch arm to pivot and release the movable transport support plate 18 which by spring means is shifted away from the plane of the cassette to its extreme initial position and moves the cassette from playing position and out to the front of the guides. Thus, to eject the cassette after playback of the tape in only one direction to the end of the reel, the solenoid 106 is twice energized, and the relationship between the tab 142 on the latch arm and the pin 149 on the actuator is such that when the actuator comes forward in response to the solenoid being first energized the pin may engage the tab but does not urge it laterally, and only when the solenoid is energized for the second time is the latch arm pivoted to release the plate.

In that case where the cassette is not to be ejected after the first playing operation and the second playing operation is to start immediately, the switch TS-l must be closed as in FIG. 9. The motor 70 will, therefore, be energized via the switch TS-l and will continue to rotate driving the tape in the second direction of movement. The switch 132 of the sensing circuit will remain open leaving the latch arm in latching position (FIG. 6) so that the movable transport plate 18 remains latched for the second playing operation.

The switch means 122 is effective for other control functions. Thus it is operative as the second drive set 26 is brought into engagement to energize the elements of the head 128 which are located to read the track or tracks on the tape operative in the second direction of tape movement. Said switch means is herein shown as a slide switch having on its slide rod 123, a conductor 123' which is effective, as schematically shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, to connect one or the other of the tape track read elements in the head to the line 138. As the second drive set 26 is engaged by the cam lever 88, the slide rod 123 is spring returned forward which causes the conductor 123' to shift from the position as schematically shown in FIG. 8 connecting line 138 to one set of terminals 128 of the head 128, to the position schematically shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 connecting line 138 to the other terminals 128" of the head. Said switch means 122 is also effective to control the lighting of the lamps which illuminate one or the other of the arrows 124, 126. As shown in FIG. 9, the conductor 123" connects the right-hand lamp to the line 118" for illuminating the right-hand arrow 126 which displays the leftto-right direction of tape movement produced by the motor when the switch TS-l is closed.

It will be noted from FIG. 10 that the switch TS-l connects the line 118" to the power source input terminal 118 and unless this switch is closed, the lamps 125 will be deenergized as well as the drive motor 70. Thus, in the single play mode of operation, as depicted in FIG. 8 the lamp 125 is connected through the slide switch 122 as well as the motor so that the tape movement is in the right-to-left direction and the head is operative to record on or play from one set of recording tracks. With the switch TS-l open at the end of the playing operation, the drive motor 70 and the lamp 125 are deenergized, and the movable transport plate 18 is released and carries the cassette out to the front of the guide.

For the consecutive playing mode, with the switch TS-l closed as shown in FIG. 9, the motor 70 and one of the lamps 125 are energized to continue the playing operation. The movable transport plate 18 is retained in the playing position for the second playing operation.

At any stage during either the first or second playing operation, the movable transport plate may be released to eject the cassette. This is achieved by means herein shown as a reject" pushbutton PB-R which energizes the solenoid 106. To release the plate and eject the cassette during the first playing operation when the actuator 96 is in its back position as shown in FIG. 5, the pushbutton PB-R is actuated twice. In response to the first actuation of the pushbutton PB-R the solenoid plunger 108 moves to the right releasing the actuator 96 to come forward. This movement of the actuator 96 shifts the cam member 88 to the position of FIG. 7 and engages the right-hand drive set 26 for the second playing operation. Thus, as a further feature of the invention, the user may at any time during playback in the first direction of tape movement, operate the reject pushbutton PB-R to stop operation in that playing direction and start operation in the second playing direction. If the reject pushbutton PB-R is pressed again, the actuator 96 and latch arm 116 pivot to the right together, releasing the movable plate 18 and carrying the cassette to the front along the guides. Thus, to eject the cassette during the first playing operation is a two stage operation.

To eject the cassette during the second playing operation when the actuator is in the forward position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 7, the pushbutton PB-R is actuated thereby causing the solenoid plunger 108 to pivot the actuator 96 and latch arm together to the right, the pin 149 on the actuator being operative to engage the tab 142 on the latch arm so as to move the latch arm. Such movement of the latch arm releases the movable transport plate 18. To eject the cassette during the second playing operation is, therefore, a single stage operation.

Furthermore, at the end of the second playing operation, the cassette will be automatically ejected by a similar movement of latch arm 116 and actuator 96 produced by the sensing circuit energizing the solenoid 106. Thus, when the tape movement stops at the end of the second playing operation, the right-hand reel having been emptied of tape which has all been wound on the left-hand reel, the circuit 130 sensing that the reel drive spindles have stopped rotating closes the switch 132 which energizes the solenoid 106. Since the actuator is in its forward position as shown in FIG. 7, it will be pulled to the right as illustrated in FIG. 7a, causing the pin 149 to engage the tab on the latch arm 116 and pulling it to the right to release the pin or stud on the movable plate 18 and allowing the movable plate to shift to its initial position. Such movement of the plate also opens the switch 121 disconnecting the power source from the electrical components of the apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is that should a cassette be inserted in the apparatus with the tape fully wound on the takeup reel in the first direction of tape movement (right to left in FIG. 3), the motor drive to the reel spindles will slip, the sensing circuit 130 will immediately operate to close the solenoid switch 132 which by energizing the solenoid will release the actuator 96, causing it to shift the cam lever 88 and thereby energize the right-hand drive set 26 to start the tape movement from left to right to carry out the second play operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination,

a stationary frame supporting a cassette for sliding movement in its own plane to playing position,

a movable transport plate carried by said frame for movement to a playing position in response to said movement of the cassette,

a pair of drive sets each including a capstan and a reel drive spindle carried by said plate for introduction into the eassette in the course of said movement of said plate,

a drive motor connected to rotate the capstans of said drive sets in opposite directions,

a pair of pinch rollers carried by said stationary frame each movable into drive relation against the capstan of one of said drive sets with the tape of a cassette in playing position pinched therebetween,

a pair of intermediate rollers carried by said plate each movable into drive relation to drive the spindle from the capstan of one of said drive sets, and

cam means carried by said stationary frame adjacent said pinch rollers and selectively operable with the cassette in playing position to move the rollers of one of said drive sets into drive relation while disengaging the rollers of the other drive set to provide for transport of the tape within the cassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel.

2. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, a fixed frame supporting a cassette for movement to a playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said fixed frame for movement to a playing position in response to the movement of the cassette, a pair of tape drive means carried by said plate for introduction into the cassette in the course of said movement of said plate, a drive motor connected to rotate said tape drive means in opposite directions, a pair of pinch rollers carried by said fixed frame each movable into drive relation with one of said drive means with the tape of the cassette in playing position pinched therebetween, cam means carried by said frame comprising a movable cam member, and cam follower means including movement transmitting connections mounted on said plate for cooperation with said cam member carried by said frame in a first tape direction position upon movement of said plate to the playing position to locate a pinch roller and one of said drive means in drive relation to the tape within the cassette while simultaneously disengaging from tape drive relation the second pinch roller and the second drive means.

3. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes according to claim 2 including means mounting said cam member for movement from said first tape direction position to a second tape direction position to disengage said first pinch roller and said first drive means from tape drive relation and to simultaneously shift the second pinch roller and the second drive means into drive relation with the tape in the cassette.

4. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes according to claim 3 further including means for manually shifting said cam member between its tape direction positions to provide transport of the tape within the cassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel.

5. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes according to claim 3 further including means for detecting the stopping of the cassette reels at the end of the first drive direction and for causing said cam member to disengage said first pinch roller and said first drive means from tape drive relation and to simultaneously shift the second pinch roller and the second drive means into drive relation with the tape in the cassette.

6. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, a fixed frame supporting a cassette for sliding movement in its own plane to a playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said fixed frame for movement to a playing position in response to said movement of the cassette, a pair of drive sets each including a capstan and a reel drive spindle carried by said plate for introduction into the cassette in the course of said movement of said plate, a drive motor connected to rotate the capstans of said drive set in opposite directions, a pair of pinch rollers carried by said fixed frame each movable into drive relation against the capstan of one of said drive sets with the tape of the cassette in playing position pinched therebetween, a pair of intermediate rollers carried by said plate each movable into drive relation to drive the spindle from the capstan of one of said drive sets, and cam means carried by said fixed frame adjacent said pinch rollers comprising a cam member mounted for movement between two positions and having cam elements adjacent each end, movement transmitting connections mounted on said plate and movable into cooperation with each said cam element upon movement of said plate to the playing position, said movement transmitting connections being operable to shift a pinch roller and an intermediate roller of one of said drive sets upon movement of said member to either of said positions for engaging the pinch roller and the intermediate roller of said one drive set in drive relation while simultaneously disengaging the pinch roller and the intermediate roller of the second drive set to provide for transport of the tapes within the eassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel.

7. A bidirectional tape transport according to claim 6 including, an actuator means connected to move said cam member between said positions, means for moving said actuator means responsive to movement of said transport plate to its playing position to engage one of said drive sets and cause the tape to be driven in one direction for a first playing operation, and control means responsive to the end of said first playing operation for moving said actuator to engage the other drive set and cause the tape to be driven in the other direction for a second playing operation following completion of the first playing operation to provide automatic consecutive playback of the tape recording tracks in a predetermined sequence.

8. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, means supporting a cassette for movement front edge first to a playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said frame for movement to a playing position, a pair of capstans carried on said transport plate for introduction into one face of the cassette in the course of the movement of said transport plate, a drive motor connected to rotate the capstans in opposite directions, pinch roller means movably mounted to alternately penetrate the front edge of the cassette in its playing position, said pinch roller means being positioned to penetrate the front edge of the cassette and and engage the outside of the cassette as the cassette reaches its playing position in its movement so as to pinch the tape against one of said capstans, and cam means carried on said support means and operable in response to movement of the cassette to playing position to penetrate said pinch roller means into engagement with the outside of the tape and against the second of said capstans while disengaging said pinch roller means from said one of said capstans to provide for transport of the tape within the cassette in both directions.

9. in a tape recorder player for self-contained tape cassettes of the type having two reels with the tape anchored at each end to said reels, the combination comprising, means supporting a cassette for movement to and from a playing position,

movable plate means carried by said supporting means for movement to and from a playing position, bidirectional drive means carried on said plate means for transporting the tape from reel to reel within the cassette, said drive means being operable to transport the tape in a first drive direction after movement of the cassette to playing position, means for sensing the stopping of said reels at the end of the transport of the tape from either reel to the other, and cam means carried on said supporting means operated by said sensing means responsive to the stopping of said reels at the end of the reel in said first drive direction for reversing said bidirectional drive means on said plate to transport the tape in the second drive direction.

10. In a tape recorder player for cassettes, the combination according to claim 9 further including ejecting means alternatively actuated by said sensing means responsive to the stopping of said reel at the end of the reel in said first drive direction for moving the plate and thereby removing the eassette from playing position.

11. In a tape recorder-player for cassettes, the combination according to claim 10 wherein said ejecting means is additionally actuated by said sensing means responsive to the stopping of said reel at the end of the reel in said direction for moving said plate and thereby removing the cassette from playing position.

12. In a tape recorder-player for cassettes, the combination according to claim 10 further including manually actuablc means operable to override said ejecting means at the end of the reel in said first drive direction and to cause said cam means to reverse said bidirectional drive means on said plate to transport the tape in the second drive direction.

13. In a tape recorder player for a cassette, the combination according to claim 9 further including means manually opera ble during transport of the tape in the first drive direction for reversing said bidirectional drive means to provide playback of sets of tracks recorded in both directions of movement of the tape in sequence.

14. In a tape recorder-player for a cassette, the combination according to claim 13 further including means manually operable during transport of the tape in either drive direction for removing a cassette from playing position.

15. In a tape recorder player for a cassette the combination according to claim 9 further including a fixed playback head having spaced means aligned for reading the separated sound tracks recorded on said tape in each of said directions of tape transport, and means actuated in response to the mode of operation of said drive means for switching from one to the other of said track reading means of said playback head according to the direction of tape transport produced by said drive means. 

1. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, a stationary frame supporting a cassette for sliding movement in its own plane to playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said frame for movement to a playing position in response to said movement of the cassette, a pair of drive sets each including a capstan and a reel drive spindle carried by said plate for introduction into the cassette in the course of said movement of said plate, a drive motor connected to rotate the capstans of said drive sets in opposite directions, a pair of pinch rollers carried by said stationary frame each movable into drive relation against the capstan of one of said drive sets with the tape of a cassette in playing position pinched therebetween, a pair of intermediate rollers carried by said plate each movable into drive relation to drive the spindle from the capstan of one of said drive sets, and cam means carried by said stationary frame adjacent said pinch rollers and selectively operable with the cassette in playing position to move the rollers of one of said drive sets into drive relation while disengaging the rollers of the other drive set to provide for transport of the tape within the cassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel.
 2. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, a fixed frame supporting a cassette for movement to a playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said fixed frame for movement to a playing position in response to the movement of the cassette, a pair of tape drive means carried by said plate for introduction into the cassette in the course of said movement of said plate, a drive motor connected to rotate said tape drive means in opposite directions, a pair of pinch rollers carried by said fixed frame each movable into drive relation with one of said drive means with the tape of the cassette in playing position pinched therebetween, cam means carried by said frame comprising a movable cam member, and cam follower means including movement transmitting connections mounted on said plate for cooperation with said cam member carried by said frame in a first tape direction position upon movement of said plate to the playing position to locate a pinch roller and one of said drive means in drive relation to the tape within the cassette while simultaneously disengaging from tape drive relation the second pinch roller and the second drive means.
 3. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes according to claim 2 including means mounting said cam member for movement from said first tape direction position to a second tape direction position to disengage said first pinch roller and said first drive means from tape drive relation and to simultaneously shift the second pinch roller and the second drive means into drive relation with the tape in the cassette.
 4. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes according to claim 3 further including means for manually shifting said cam member between its tape direction positions to provide transport of the tape within the cassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel.
 5. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes according to Claim 3 further including means for detecting the stopping of the cassette reels at the end of the first drive direction and for causing said cam member to disengage said first pinch roller and said first drive means from tape drive relation and to simultaneously shift the second pinch roller and the second drive means into drive relation with the tape in the cassette.
 6. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, a fixed frame supporting a cassette for sliding movement in its own plane to a playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said fixed frame for movement to a playing position in response to said movement of the cassette, a pair of drive sets each including a capstan and a reel drive spindle carried by said plate for introduction into the cassette in the course of said movement of said plate, a drive motor connected to rotate the capstans of said drive set in opposite directions, a pair of pinch rollers carried by said fixed frame each movable into drive relation against the capstan of one of said drive sets with the tape of the cassette in playing position pinched therebetween, a pair of intermediate rollers carried by said plate each movable into drive relation to drive the spindle from the capstan of one of said drive sets, and cam means carried by said fixed frame adjacent said pinch rollers comprising a cam member mounted for movement between two positions and having cam elements adjacent each end, movement transmitting connections mounted on said plate and movable into cooperation with each said cam element upon movement of said plate to the playing position, said movement transmitting connections being operable to shift a pinch roller and an intermediate roller of one of said drive sets upon movement of said member to either of said positions for engaging the pinch roller and the intermediate roller of said one drive set in drive relation while simultaneously disengaging the pinch roller and the intermediate roller of the second drive set to provide for transport of the tapes within the cassette selectively in either direction from reel to reel.
 7. A bidirectional tape transport according to claim 6 including, an actuator means connected to move said cam member between said positions, means for moving said actuator means responsive to movement of said transport plate to its playing position to engage one of said drive sets and cause the tape to be driven in one direction for a first playing operation, and control means responsive to the end of said first playing operation for moving said actuator to engage the other drive set and cause the tape to be driven in the other direction for a second playing operation following completion of the first playing operation to provide automatic consecutive playback of the tape recording tracks in a predetermined sequence.
 8. A bidirectional tape transport for cassettes comprising, in combination, means supporting a cassette for movement front edge first to a playing position, a movable transport plate carried by said frame for movement to a playing position, a pair of capstans carried on said transport plate for introduction into one face of the cassette in the course of the movement of said transport plate, a drive motor connected to rotate the capstans in opposite directions, pinch roller means movably mounted to alternately penetrate the front edge of the cassette in its playing position, said pinch roller means being positioned to penetrate the front edge of the cassette and and engage the outside of the cassette as the cassette reaches its playing position in its movement so as to pinch the tape against one of said capstans, and cam means carried on said support means and operable in response to movement of the cassette to playing position to penetrate said pinch roller means into engagement with the outside of the tape and against the second of said capstans while disengaging said pinch roller means from said one of said capstans to provide for transport of the tape within the cassette in both directions.
 9. In a tape recorder player for self-contained tape cassettes of the type having two reels with the tape anchored at each end to said reels, the combination comprising, means supporting a cassette for movement to and from a playing position, movable plate means carried by said supporting means for movement to and from a playing position, bidirectional drive means carried on said plate means for transporting the tape from reel to reel within the cassette, said drive means being operable to transport the tape in a first drive direction after movement of the cassette to playing position, means for sensing the stopping of said reels at the end of the transport of the tape from either reel to the other, and cam means carried on said supporting means operated by said sensing means responsive to the stopping of said reels at the end of the reel in said first drive direction for reversing said bidirectional drive means on said plate to transport the tape in the second drive direction.
 10. In a tape recorder player for cassettes, the combination according to claim 9 further including ejecting means alternatively actuated by said sensing means responsive to the stopping of said reel at the end of the reel in said first drive direction for moving the plate and thereby removing the cassette from playing position.
 11. In a tape recorder-player for cassettes, the combination according to claim 10 wherein said ejecting means is additionally actuated by said sensing means responsive to the stopping of said reel at the end of the reel in said direction for moving said plate and thereby removing the cassette from playing position.
 12. In a tape recorder-player for cassettes, the combination according to claim 10 further including manually actuable means operable to override said ejecting means at the end of the reel in said first drive direction and to cause said cam means to reverse said bidirectional drive means on said plate to transport the tape in the second drive direction.
 13. In a tape recorder player for a cassette, the combination according to claim 9 further including means manually operable during transport of the tape in the first drive direction for reversing said bidirectional drive means to provide playback of sets of tracks recorded in both directions of movement of the tape in sequence.
 14. In a tape recorder-player for a cassette, the combination according to claim 13 further including means manually operable during transport of the tape in either drive direction for removing a cassette from playing position.
 15. In a tape recorder player for a cassette the combination according to claim 9 further including a fixed playback head having spaced means aligned for reading the separated sound tracks recorded on said tape in each of said directions of tape transport, and means actuated in response to the mode of operation of said drive means for switching from one to the other of said track reading means of said playback head according to the direction of tape transport produced by said drive means. 